The National Commission for Women on Friday asked the Goa police to file an FIR against founder and editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal over allegations of sexual assault by a woman colleague during a conference in Goa.

The NCW wrote a letter to the Goa police asking it to file the FIR based on Tejpal's letter, which he had sent to Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury.

On Thursday, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had ordered a preliminary inquiry into allegations that Tarun Tejpal had sexually assaulted a colleague during a media event in the state and promised action if the crime was established.

Parrikar's announcement had come a day after Tarun Tejpal said he was stepping down as editor-in-chief for six months to atone for the "unfortunate incident" after a young woman journalist working for the magazine accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Goa hotel on two occasions earlier this month, sparking national outrage.

In her complaint to managing editor Chaudhury, the woman journalist had claimed that Tarun Tejpal sexually assaulted her on two occasions during the 'Think fest' event organised by the magazine at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Bambolim.

She is said to have claimed that Tarun Tejpal had on one occasion pulled her into a lift at a five-star hotel and pressed buttons to ensure the elevator stayed in circuit and did not stop or open doors while he assaulted her.

Tejpal allegedly tried to assault her again the next day, again by pulling her into a lift at the same hotel, the woman is said to have alleged.

In response, Tarun Tejpal wrote to Chaudhury and claimed "a bad lapse of judgment" and "an awful misreading of the situation" had led to an "unfortunate incident" and that he had unconditionally apologised for his misconduct.

Chaudhury had said the woman journalist had not filed a criminal complaint and that she, as well as other staffers, were satisfied with the action taken.